Re: [HPforGrownups] CHAPDISC: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 17, Bathilda’s Secret

[Laura Lynn Walsh]

No: HPFGUIDX 182440


On 2008, Mar 31, , at 02:58, “akh” wrote:

> 2. We've waited for seven books to get our first glimpse of the house
> in Godric's Hollow. How satisfying was the scene where Harry finally
> sees his family home?

I thought it was appropriate and touching - Christmas eve
with snow - peaceful and serene, soothing what could have
been a very jarring experience.

I guess Harry now owns two homes - Grimmauld Place and
the Potter family home in Godric's Hollow.  I wonder where he
lives 19 years later.  I wonder if he would be healed enough
to make Godric's Hollow his home, again.

> 3. "Bathilda" seems to be able to see Harry and Hermione beneath the
> Invisibility Cloak. Does this mean that Nagini can see through
> Cloaks? Does LV know they're there and communicates it to Nagini?
> Clearly, someone is there, since the sign has risen out of the
> ground, but how does LV!Nagini know where they're standing?

I got the feeling that Mrs. Norris could "see" beneath the
invisibility cloak, too.  In both cases, however, I think they
are using different senses than sight.  In various places it
is made clear that the cloak is perfect when it comes to
sight, but Harry is aware, even at the start, that he is still
perfectly solid.  And he infers that the cat could smell him
after he took a bath in the smelly soaps.  I think the fact that
"Bathilda" could see him beneath the cloak is the first clue
that she isn't a normal human - our senses of smell and
heat detection are much less capable of such detection.

> 4. As Harry and Hermione enter the house, the description of Bathilda
> is actually a series of clues as to her state. Of course, we all have
> the advantage of hindsight; did any of this set off alarms for you on
> the first read?

I thought right away that she was really dead.  I thought that
she was one of Voldie's inferi.

> 7. Although the outcome of the visit was not what I expected (to say
> the least), I felt the tension was built well in this scene, and I
> was primed for some sort of surprise. What was your response to the
> buildup? Did you speculate correctly on the surprise outcome?

I didn't speculate quite accurately.  I thought she was an inferi,
but I think there were a lot of clues about the eventual surprise.

> 8. This chapter contains one of the most grisly (if not THE most
> grisly) scenes in the HP series. What was your initial reaction to
> the – er – unveiling of Bathilda?

My initial reaction is more typical of me than of most readers.  The
second I knew what was going to happen, I skipped to the end
of the chapter to find out how it turned out, before I was even able
to go back and read the entire scene.  I have a lot of trouble reading
"grisly" or horrific scenes.  For years, between the publication of
HBP and DH, I couldn't read (or listen to) the chapter at Spinner's End.
It was just too disturbing to me.  So I would skip it.

> 9. Again, we finally get another scene we've been waiting to see for
> seven books: the deaths of James and Lily Potter and Voldemort's
> destruction. How did the scene live up to your expectations?  What
> did it elucidate that had been unclear previously? (I realize that
> much of this has been discussed.)

I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more to what James
did.  I suppose it wasn't possible, but I would have liked VM to
have played with him a little more.  VM does seem to like to
brag about his prowess.  And while he is bragging, his enemies
scheme to evade him.  I would like to have seen a bit of that.

> 11. This chapter points up yet again one of JKR's themes: the
> vicissitudes of friendship. Do you think Lily and James were too
> trusting of the Fidelius charm, and they should have been armed
> constantly? What was your reaction to the picture of DD and
> Grindelwald arm in arm? Do you think Harry and Hermione's
> relationship altered any as a result of the events of that night?

I don't think it is unexpected that they would set down their
wands for a little bit.  They were in hiding - safe and a bit bored.
After a time, they are bound to relax a bit.

I am surprised to some extent that Harry isn't more understanding
of Dumbledore and Grindelwald's friendship.  None of my childhood
friends turned out to be brutal cold-blooded killers like VM or
Grindelwald, but I not all of them turned out to be paragons of virtue
either.  One creepy guy I dated around that time turned out to be
a bit of a stalker.  Fortunately, I went far away from him for college.
The point is, people DO sometimes change substantially around
that age.

Laura W.
-- 
Laura Lynn Walsh    lwalsh at acsalaska.net
http://llwcontemplations.blogspot.com



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